W. Dundee's Clearwater Theater closed over liquor license

West Dundee officials have closed the Clearwater Theater for serving alcohol without a state liquor license for more than a year. As a result, the theater has canceled its September performances.Patrick Kunzer | Staff Photographer

Lenore T. Adkins

West Dundee officials have shut down a popular concert venue for failing to hold a state liquor license for more than a year, authorities confirmed Monday.

The Clearwater Theater, situated in the heard of West Dundee's downtown, had been operating without a liquor license since March 2010, but continued to sell alcohol anyway, Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said.

A special investigator from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission found out about the lapse during an audit and notified village officials Wednesday, documents show. That same day, Village President Larry Keller, also chairman of the three-member liquor control commission, revoked the theater's business license and suspended its local liquor license.

The commission upheld both decisions Monday at the conclusion of a hearing they set aside for theater owner Eric Isibue to argue his case. Isibue did not attend the hearing nor did he send a representative in his place.

The body will not reinstate the liquor license until Isibue secures one from the state.

In order to serve alcohol, Illinois businesses need liquor licenses from both the village and the state, said Sue Hofer, a spokeswoman for the state's liquor control commission. Information on what prompted the audit was not available from the state Monday.

Cavallaro said alcohol remains on the premises, which is why closing the business was necessary. He added that Isibue has to now decide whether he wants to seek a state liquor license or run the business alcohol free.

"He has to clean this up, one way or the other," Cavallaro said.

According to its website, the theater features local, national and regional musicians, as well as comedians and other entertainers.

The performances listed for the rest of September have been canceled, according to the schedule of events posted on the site.